Belvedere Middle School Comprehensive Modernization - LAUSD

Henderson Engineers outpaced construction schedule and sustainability goals for East Los Angeles' Belvedere Middle School's comprehensive modernization. The project started as a design-build competition for the replacement of all existing buildings (except the auditorium). As a part of the design-build delivery method, Henderson collaborated with the MEPFT trade partners through the design and permitting phase. This allowed for full scale clash detection utilizing Level 400 BIM Modeling during construction documents, early pricing exercises, and ultimately early procurement of equipment, leading to a streamlined construction process. The design team’s multi-phased approach significantly reduced the construction schedule by 16 months to 4.5 years, faster than the other two teams.

Phase 1 involved the complete demolition of the southern portion of the campus, which had the added challenge of housing a majority of the utility services. Henderson successfully coordinated the demolition, keeping the school fully open and operational. Phase 2 consisted of new construction on the southern portion. Phase 3 included the demolition of the existing buildings on the northern portion of the campus, as well as the modernization of the existing auditorium building. The auditorium's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) upgrades included a new heating hot water boiler plant in an expanded mechanical yard, serving a new custom air handling unit in the basement.

At least 50% of the school’s electricity needed to be generated from on-site renewable energy per the sustainability standards of the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The design surpassed that, allowing for a 60–70% offset. Sustainable development is integral to how Henderson designs facilities as they look to address environmental and energy consumption concerns. The team coordinated HVAC placement and distribution systems on the roofs of the buildings to accommodate sufficient space for the solar PV system, while also ensuring walking paths for facility personnel.